5 Ways to Use Passbook Now

Shed those accumulating loyalty cards that turn what was once a normal key ring into a plastic ninja star. Lose the loose change you scrounge for to pay for a cup of coffee. Never again misplace your crumpled boarding pass before you even get near a TSA agent. Apple's Passbook app is here to lighten your load and, hopefully, make your life a bit easier.

Though the Passbook app didn't garner the attention or infamy that Apple Maps has, it was one of the more anticipated new features of iOS 6. As with Apple Maps, it has had its share of issues, including connection glitches and a launch that excluded many of its advertised partners. But some companies, including American Airlines, Target, and Walgreens, have gotten on board with Passbook and it's beginning to take off. Just last week, for example, Starbucks added iOS 6 support to its app so customers can combine their Starbucks card (with their prepaid balances and the ability to earn rewards) with Passbook.

While the iPhone 5 is NFC-free, Passbook functions as a sort of currency by storing tickets, coupons, and gift and loyalty cards within a wallet-like interface on iPhones, iPod touches, and iPads. The items in Passbook are integrated with apps and sites so that transactions that take place within them result in an "Add to Passbook" option that imports the information. That info is then translated into a scannable card or ticket in the app. Because iOS 6 is location-aware, some Passbook cards and coupons show up when the user is in proximity to an event or store.

Passbook hasn't yet reached its full potential, but as its list of partners grows longer, it becomes an increasingly valuable tool that adds to the iPhone's personal assistant-like nature. If you're looking to streamline your wallet and better organize all those tickets, stubs, and clipped coupons in your life, look through the following gallery for a few ways that Passbook can help.

1. Events

While standing in line to get into a concert as the rain pelts down, many people shield their tickets printed out on cheap copy paper before they consider themselves. Now, some who use Ticketmaster and Live Nation won't have that worry. Tickets for a few Ticketmaster and about 70 Live Nation venues, including Irving Plaza in New York and The Fillmore in San Francisco, can now be added to Passbook for easy scanning at entry. The same goes for Eventbrite; it issues tickets for events of all sizes and lets users add their tickets to Passbook from confirmation emails or while purchasing tickets from a browser on an iOS device.

MLB has stepped up to the plate for baseball fans, giving them the ability to add tickets to New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, and Kansas City Royals games to Passbook. Moviegoers are in the picture, too, with the Fandango app. Users can purchase tickets and send them to Passbook app for scanning by ticket takers at over 2,600 locations.

2. Shopping

There's no need to look like one of the crazies on Extreme Couponing when you have Passbook. Users of the Target app can set their location and then receive coupons complete with a scannable code and expiration date that they can send directly to Passbook. They can even set the coupons to pop up on their lock screen when they're in a Target.

Walgreens customers can connect to their Balance Rewards card in Passbook to earn discounts. By setting a home Walgreens location, when they're near the store, Passbook will display their card for quick access.

Sephora's Beauty Insiders can use their rewards cards directly from Passbook, earning and redeeming points toward bonus gifts.

3. Travel

Boarding passes get an upgrade with Passbook. United Airlines, American Airlines, and Lufthansa customers can not only store their boarding passes in Passbook, but in the future, they'll also be able to get up-to-date gate and flight changes sent to them as alerts.

W Hotel has upped its iOS love; while it already lets guests order room service and download its DJ mixes, stays can now be logged into Passbook to speed up check-in and check-out times.

While Airbnb reservations don't generally require an official check-in since they're in people's homes, the soon-to-be integrated app will provide that option or just to serve as a reminder.

4. Food

The Starbucks app has ported over its rewards card functionality to Passbook. Caffeinators can pay for drinks and food, check their rewards points, and manage their balances.

French lovers of McDonald's—if there are any—can get their fix in a jif with Passbook. Through the GoMcDo app, they can place an order and pay from their iPhones, getting a QR code and order confirmation number delivered to Passbook for a quick pick-up at over 50 McDonald's locations.

5. Finances

While not a credit card, American Express Pass is a way for card members to see their balance, review recent purchases, and access customer service info from within Passbook. AMEX Pass also gives card members access to American Express events and offers.